Amusement device



June 26, 1962 F. w. KERSTEIN 3,041,070

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Dec. 31, 1958 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. FRED W. KERSTEIN BY 1% i g /r7):

United States Patent 3,041,070 AMUSEMENT DEVICE Fred W. Ker-stein, Terre Haute, Ind. (728 N. Main, Monticello, Ind.) Filed Dec. 31, 1958, Ser. No. 784,245 1 Claim. (Cl. 27233) This invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly to an action toy for children.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an occupant controlled amusement rocking and revolving device for a plurality of children of various age groups that will provide healthful exercise, balance control, and utmost safety during use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an amusement device for the above type in which the occupants not only control a rocking and spinning movement thereof, but also cooperate to prevent overturning of the unit and to otherwise exercise the balance and motive power mechanisms of the body.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a rocking and revolving amusement device bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an amusement device made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the amusement device shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of an amusement device made in accordance with the present invention in operative use by two occupants shown by broken lines.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, an amusement device made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a main body member 12 in the form of a substantially hollow hemisphere defining a central hemispherical compartment 13. The exterior spheroidal portion of the shell member 12 forms a rocking and revolving device for rockably supporting the unit upon a supporting surface and permitting spinning thereof. A floor 14, of generally circular shape of slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the open end of the shell 12, is secured within the compartment 13 in spaced relationship with the spheroidal portion of the main body member. This floor 14 defines a closed compartment 16 with such spheroidal portion,

which compartment may be partially or completely filled with fiowable, removable, granular ballast 18 of any desired type through a filler opening 20 such as sand or gravel. The ballast 18 contains the shell 12 in a normally upright position. The ballast being of flowable characteristics, and not one solid mass, allows the user to have a normal light weight tube which when filled with sand or the like is ready for use by one or more, preferably a plurality of children. The ballast keeps the center of gravity of the toy below the level of the floor 14 and substantially in a plane embodying the central axis of the body member 10, preventing the toy from tipping over. After its use, the user can quickly re ice move the ballast by removing the drain plug in the floor and allowing the ballast to flow out through the filler opening 20, whereby it can be easily carried and put away in storage. However, the occupants of the amusement device, seated upon the seats 22, usually two in number and opposite from each other, having a horizontal seat portion and an upwardly extending back rest portion rigidly secured to the fioor 14 and upper portion of the shell member 12 and safely retained therein, such as by straps 24, or other suitable means; when flexible straps are used they are secured adjacent the end portions of the seat 22 and are of such length as to hold the occupant upon the seat portion of the seat and yet allow the occupant to sway the upper portion of his body in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the rocking body member effecting continuous rocking of the toy once it is in motion; movement of the body in a rotary motion will assist the whirling of the toy, this action will rock the main body member from side to side or spin it around the central symmetrical axis thereof.

It will be recognized that by making the shell 12 in various sizes, children of different groups may be accommodated in varying numbers, safely and comfortably. In addition, the amount of ballast '18 within the closed compartments 16 can be conveniently adjusted so as to provide the desired amount of rocking movement so as to provide the utmost of amusement and balance control for the occupants. While the unit may be manufactured, shipped, and stored with the ballast compartment 16 empty, the ultimate consumer may supply the desired ballast which may be sand, gravel, or the like. The shell 12, which may be constructed of fiber glass or other suitable material, will withstand various shock loads and accommodate different types of rocking and revolving movements imparted thereto by the occupants.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In a combined rocking and revolving amusement device which will enclose at least two passengers substantially wholly therein, in combination, a rigid main body member having a hollow hemispherical one piece imperforated shell of uniform thickness having a rocking and whirling smooth exterior surface adapted to rest on the floor, said shell defining an upper circular opening, the maximum diameter of said shell being the same as the diameter of the upper peripheral edge portion of said shell about said upper circular opening, a floor plate smaller in dimeter than the maximum diameter of said shell integrally secured to and supported normally horizontally by the interior side Wall of said shell and substantially midway between the upper and lower extremities of said shell, two seats with horizontal and vertical portions, said two seats spaced diametrically apart from each other with the horizontal base portions thereof rigidly secured to and supported by said floor plate, the rear vertical portions of said seats arranged adjacent the interior side wall of said shell and extending from said floor plate to the peripheral edge portion of said shell, the front vertical portions of said seats spaced from each other forming a compartment to permit the legs and feet of the passengers to extend therein, the horizontal top portions of said seats positioned between said floor plate and the upper peripheral edge portion of said shell, a totally enclosed spheroid shaped ballast can be inserted and removed from said ballast of said floor plate and the interior surface of the portion of said shell below said floor plate for supporting a quantity of granular type ballast therein, a bore in said floor plate closed by a plug whereby the granular type ballast can be inserted and removed from said ballast compartment, two retaining means secured wholly Within said shell and arranged with said two seats whereby two passengers may be temporarily retained substantially 4 wholly within said shell and allowing the passengers to move the upper portions of their bodies in a rotary manner, whereby any rotary action of the passengers in said shell is transmitted to the shell, thereby effecting rocking 5 and continued whirling thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 D. 161,731 Boren Jan. 30, 1951 246,458 Chandler Aug. 30, 1881 1,395,698 Baum et al. Nov. 1, 1921 2,612,936 Lansaw Oct. 7, 1952 2,804,123 Kling Aug. 27, 1957 2,920,685 Trebilcook Jan. 12, 1960 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,041,070 June 26, 1962 Fred W. Ker-stein It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

CoIumn 3, line 8, for "can be inserted and removed from sa1d ballast" read compartment formed between the lower surface Signed and sealed this 20th day of August 1963.

SEAL) .ttest:

IENEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD 

